Injury curtails Fourie's rugby union career

LONDON (AFP) –

South African propTendai Mtawarira (left) is tackled by England‘s No. 8 Nick Easter (3rd right) and England’s Hendre Fourie (2nd left) at Twickenham, London, November 27, 2010. Fourie has been forced to retire after failing to overcome a shoulder injury.

Former England international Hendre Fourie has been forced to retire after failing to overcome a shoulder injury, his English Premiership club, Sale, announced on Thursday.

Born in South Africa, the 33-year-old won eight caps for England and made his last appearance in a World Cup warm-up match against Ireland in Dublin in 2011.

He moved to Sale from Leeds in 2011 but has rarely played due to injury and is set to be replaced by former New Zealand international Daniel Braid, who has joined the Manchester club until the end of the season.

“Unfortunately, Hendre has had to retire. We got the final confirmation last week after taking medical advice,” said Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond.

“As a club, we have backed Hendre 100 per cent in his battle to get fit but unfortunately, his shoulder has not recovered. His body has been battered so much that the shoulder won’t recover.”

Diamond said that Braid, 31, was an important signing as the club tried to move off the bottom of the Premiership.